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ACRT Services Leadership Team

About the ACRT Services Board of Directors

ACRT Services is privileged to be led and advised by exceptional, experienced professionals from the utility services industry as well as others. Together, our board of directors shape our organizational vision and strategy, ensure our employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) remains strong for our nationwide team, and ensure that our family of companies continues to make a positive, measurable impact for our customers.

As the parent company of our family of brands, the ACRT Services board of directors and advisors includes inside and outside directors, our executive leadership team, and the presidents of our four subsidiaries: ACRT, ACRT Pacific, Bermex, and EnviroScience. Each of our subsidiaries is also governed by a board of directors.

Six members of the 2025–2026 ACRT Services Board of Directors stand outdoors in business attire, arranged left to right: Eric Morales, Charles DeLacey, Nan McClenaghan, Don Esch, Brad Schroeder, and Tony Colly.

2025-2026 Board of Directors L to R: Eric Morales, Charles DeLacey, Nan McClenaghan, Don Esch, Brad Schroeder, Tony Colly

ACRT Services Board Members

Don Esch

Don Esch retired after 18 years as the President and CEO of Bettcher Industries — a very mature and successful ESOP company located in North Central Ohio. During his tenure with Bettcher, Don successfully grew the company and continually increased its value to the ESOP participants. Don brings a rich history of company growth in an ESOP environment. Throughout his career, he has been a “change agent,” focusing on the practical application of business principles to help grow and transition companies and employees into high-opportunity market segments. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Albion College and an MBA from the University of Oklahoma. He currently serves as the chair of our board, and a member of the audit, compensation, and governance committees.

Brad Schroeder

Brad Schroeder is the chief executive officer of ACRT Services and, most recently, served as its chief financial officer. Before joining our organization in 2012, Brad served in financial leadership positions for Fortune 500 companies. He serves on several boards for local for-profit and non-profit organizations. Brad holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Bowling Green State University and an MBA in Finance from The University of Akron. He currently serves as a member of the audit, compensation, and governance committees.

Tony Colly

Anthony “Tony” Colly is the senior vice president and chief human resource officer for Summa Health, a nonprofit integrated healthcare delivery system in Northeast Ohio. Colly served in the U.S. Air Force for more than 10 years in several capacities related to recruiting and specializes in employee relations, compliance with rules and regulations, and recruiting. He is a Society for Human Resource Management, Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration and human resource management from Columbia Southern University, respectfully. He is an outside director for our board, chair of the compensation committee, and a member of the strategy committee.

Charles DeLacey

Charles “Charlie” DeLacey is the chief executive officer for the Kenan Advantage Group, one of the largest fuel-hauling companies in the United States. In a previous role, Charlie led the execution of merger and acquisition assignments across a variety of industries for leading independent M&A advisory firms. Charlie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Denison University and an MBA from Harvard University. He is an outside director for our board, chair of the audit committee, and a member of the compensation committee.

Nancy Ellis McClenaghan

Nancy “Nan” Ellis McClenaghan is the president and chief executive officer of Goodwill Industries of Akron, Ohio. Nan brings a keen focus on organizational design and business processes. Having previously worked for Dominion Resources, her knowledge of the utility industry provides insight into customer goals. Nan has her Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio University and an MBA from the University of Akron. She is an outside director for our board, chair of the governance committee, and a member of the audit, compensation, and strategy committees.

Eric Morales

Eric Morales is an operations manager at ACRT and has been with the organization since 2006 and has two decades of industry experience. He is an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist and serves as the chairman of ACRT’s Safety Committee. Morales has also served on his utility’s Vegetation Management Safety Advisory Council since its inception and previously chaired the committee. He holds a Bachelor of Science in agriculture/horticulture from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Morales is the current voting employee director and a member of the governance committee.

Board Advisors

C. Troy Ross

C. Troy Ross is the president of vegetation management at ACRT and ACRT Pacific. Since joining ACRT in 1999 as a contract utility forester, Ross has advanced through increasingly senior leadership roles, supporting vegetation management programs for a wide range of utility types and organizational structures. He is the current Utility Arborist Association (UAA) vice president, a former UAA board director, and was recognized with the UAA Utility Arborist Award in 2023 for his contributions to advancing utility vegetation management. Ross holds a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from Union University and an MBA from Ashland University.

Kevin Puls

Kevin Puls is the general manager of EnviroScience. He has been with the company for more than 25 years and began his career with ACRT as a work planner. He worked his way up to become an operations manager, senior operations manager, director of operations, and most recently, president. Puls recently completed his term as a director on the Utility Arborist Board. He attended Mount Union College where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in biology, and holds an MBA from Ashland University.

Tommy Combs

Tommy Combs is the president of Bermex and brings more than two decades of experience in the utility service industry. He holds a Bachelor of Science in business management from the University of Tampa in Tampa, Fla. Combs is also the founder of StrategiTech, a company that played a key role in strengthening Bermex’s capabilities when it was acquired by ACRT Services in 2020. His leadership has helped expand Bermex’s suite of utility solutions, which now includes line locating, damage prevention, smart meter installation, and a wide range of field and customer-focused utility services.

H. Alan Rothenbuecher

Alan Rothenbuecher is the secretary on the ACRT Services board of directors. He is a partner at Benesch Law and also serves as outside general counsel to our organization. Alan also serves as the secretary for the ACRT, ACRT Pacific, Bermex, and EnviroScience board of directors. He brings significant experience in building and protecting assets, conducting risk analysis, and providing strategic corporate counsel. He has been working with our organization since 2000. Alan regularly speaks at industry events and has authored numerous articles on risk management and contract issues. He serves as an advisor on the audit, compensation, and governance committees. Alan holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctor from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

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